Puberty Education for Texas Schools
Navigate Texas health education requirements with confidence. Puberty: The Wonder Years provides grade 4-6 educators with scripted lesson plans, family engagement tools, and online training, all aligned to national health education standards.
Page last updated: August 24, 2026. State requirements can change, so confirm current rules with your state education agency.
Texas Health Education Requirements for Grades 4-6
- Health education is mandatory for grades K-8 under TEKS Chapter 115, adopted by the State Board of Education in November 2020 and effective August 2022.
- Sex education is optional. Schools that choose to offer it must follow TEKS and applicable state statutes.
- TEKS for grades 4-6 address human growth and development, healthy relationships, and personal safety.
- Instruction related to human sexuality must emphasize abstinence as the preferred choice of behavior for unmarried persons of school age, per Texas Education Code.
Key Texas Resources
TEA Health Education TEKS (Chapter 115)
Official TEKS standards for health education, grades K-8
TEA Health Education TEKS Review
TEKS review process, work groups, and adoption history
State-level sex education policy overview from SIECUS
Guttmacher Institute: Sex and HIV Education
National sex education policy data including Texas
How Puberty: The Wonder Years Supports Texas Health Education
PWY covers the core health education topics addressed in Texas TEKS for grades 4-6, including human growth and development, healthy relationships, and personal safety. While a formal TEKS crosswalk is in development, PWY is verified against the National Sex Education Standards (NSES, 2nd edition) and the National Health Education Standards (NHES), which Texas districts commonly use as evaluation frameworks.
Family Engagement Tools
Texas policy emphasizes parental involvement. PWY includes Family Activity Sheets, parent preview materials, and a dedicated parent resources website, all in English and Spanish.
Adaptable Lesson Structure
Texas districts choose their own curriculum through the SHAC process. PWY’s modular design lets schools select which lessons and Add-On Lessons match their community’s needs.
Teacher Scripts and Training
PWY provides word-for-word teacher scripts and online training so educators can teach with confidence, even on sensitive topics.
NSES + NHES Alignment
PWY is verified against national standards that Texas districts use to evaluate curriculum quality.
National Sex Education Standards Alignment | National Health Education Standards Alignment
Bring PWY to Your Texas District
Try a free 5th grade lesson with your class.
Request a 60-day curriculum preview for your review team.
Present PWY to your School Health Advisory Council (SHAC).
PWY provides administrator guides and curriculum outlines to support the adoption process.
Get your school board’s approval and purchase.
Expertly Designed by a Certified Sexuality Educator
Crafted by Wendy Sellers, Certified Sexuality Educator (CES), Curriculum Designer, and Registered Nurse (RN), Puberty: The Wonder Years breaks the silence and stigma around puberty, providing trusted guidance for students, parents, and educators alike.
What Educators Are Saying
“Puberty: The Wonder Years doesn’t just stick to puberty, it also includes lessons on topics that I think are necessary such as bullying, and social-emotional components. There’s also a lot of scripting for really good conversation and prompts for the teachers.”
Tim Kordic, Project Manager, Sexual Health & HIV Prevention, Los Angeles Unified School District
Want to share your experience with PWY in Texas? Contact us.
Texas Puberty Education FAQ
Does Texas require puberty education?
Texas requires health education for students in grades K-8 under TEKS Chapter 115. Health education topics for grades 4-6 include human growth and development, healthy relationships, and personal safety. Sex education beyond these health education topics is optional and locally determined.
Do I need parental consent to teach puberty in Texas?
TEA recommends written parental consent for human sexuality instruction. The statutory opt-in requirement under HB 1525 (87th Legislature, 2021) expired on August 1, 2024, per the law’s sunset provision. TEA issued updated guidance advising that districts should continue requiring parental consent. Districts must also inform parents about instruction content, scheduling, and parental rights, and allow parents to remove students without penalty.
How do I get PWY approved for my Texas school?
Under Texas Education Code Section 28.004, each district must establish a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), with a majority of parent members. The SHAC recommends curriculum materials for human sexuality instruction, and the school board makes final adoption decisions at a public meeting. Start by requesting a free lesson or curriculum preview, then present PWY to your SHAC for evaluation before formal board adoption.
Does PWY align with Texas TEKS?
PWY covers the health education topics addressed in Texas TEKS for grades 4-6. A formal TEKS crosswalk is currently in development. PWY is verified against the National Sex Education Standards (NSES, 2nd edition) and the National Health Education Standards (NHES), which Texas districts commonly reference when evaluating curriculum.
Is PWY available in Spanish?
PWY’s family engagement resources, including Family Activity Sheets, Family Partnership Flyers, parent letters, and the parent resources website, are available in both English and Spanish.